HON. LEROY HAMILTON SHIELDS
Was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 18, 1854, the son of John E.
Shields, Esq., still living in Norfolk, and the grandson of William C.
Shields, formerly of Norfolk. His mother is Mary F., daughter of John
Ridley, also of Norfolk. His wife, whom he married at Alexander, Buncombe
county, North Carolina, December 29, 1885, is Mary Orra Love.
They have one daughter, Frances Elizabeth Taylor Shields, born July
28, 1887. Mrs. Shields was born in Carter county, Tennessee, and is a
daughter of Col. Robert Love, formerly of East Tennessee, now deceased.
Her mother, who was Sarah Alexander of Alexander, on French
Broad, North Carolina, is no longer living.
The subject of this sketch attended school in Norfolk. From 1875 to
1884 he was in business in this city. In 1885 was elected to the lower
house of the State legislature, Democratic member from Norfolk, serving
in sessions of 1885-6. On July 1, 1886, he was elected city collector
for Norfolk city, and is now serving his second term in this office, to
which he was re-elected for two years in 1888.
